Last



Dec. 22, 1942.

R. F. CAMPBELL LAST Filgd March 21, 1942 INVENTOR A OBERTF CAMPBELL ATTORN Y Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES FATE NT OFFICE LAST Robert F. Campbell, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 21, 1942, Serial No. 435,709 4 Claims. (01. 12-129) This invention relates to shoe trees and similar devices used for shaping or blocking apparel of various kinds and classes and the object of the invention is to provide an inflatable body shaped or molded substantially to the general contour of the apparel, for example, the interior of a shoe, and further to the provision of rigid means blocking or filling the opening of the footwear to support the inflatable body against displacement therefrom when inflated; further to the provision of means for keying the device to the footwear, and still further in the provision of an inflating nozzle by means of which the body .may be inflated. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shoe illustrating one of my improved lasts arranged therein with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. l.

When a shoe is worn, and assuming that the shoe properly fits the wearer, the foot molds the shoe to conform with the contour of the foot. This is particularly true along the toe portions of the shoe. This molding process results in the discomfort to the user during the period of breaking in a pair of shoes. It is the purpose of my invention to provide a blocking device or shoe tree which, when inflated, will apply pressure to the partially formed areas of the shoe,

.as well as to the entire inner wall structure of the shoe to materially reduce the breaking in period, and further in maintaining this contour to the inner wall structure of the shoe throughout the life use thereof simply as a blocking device or last, particularly when the shoes have illustrating the outline of the shoe in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing a weakened wall structure in the inflatable body; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an enlargement on the outer surface of the inflatable body.

In the art of blocking apparel of various kinds and classes, such for example as shoes, it has been the practice to provide a rigid body shaped to substantially conform to the contour of the apparel or to stretch the apparel to a degree which would maintain the desirable size thereof. In the use of shoe trees, these devices have been composed of relatively adjustable heel and toe portions to provide firm clamping of the tree in the shoe. In such cases, the tree simply acts to stretch the leather of the shoe in the'hope of maintaining the size thereof. Normally the trees have been specially prepared to exactly pattern the foot. These trees have been of little or no value. To construct trees as exact replicas of the foot represents a very expensive procedure and far beyond the reach of the average consumer. The average shoe tree purchased is sold from one dollar to two dollars a pair, although less expensive shoe trees made from sheet metal can be purchased but all of these standardized shoe trees utterly fail to perform the desired function.

become wet in the use thereof. It will be apparent that the inflated body of the device will conform with all of the irregular contours of the innerwall structure of the shoe and apply the desirable pressures thereon. In this connection, it will also be apparent that the device or the wall structure thereof may be so made as to exert greater pressures at different sections thereof where-desirable, this being governed by the thickness of the wall of the inflated body, particularly when the same is composed of rubber. It will also be apparent, however, that in some instances the body may be composed of any flexible material capable of withstanding the air pressure, particularly when supported by the wall structure of the shoe and by the rigid supporting wall of the device itself. I

In order to illustrate one adaptation of my invention, I have indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing at ID a shoe, the toe portion of which is generally indicated by the reference H, the heel portion by the reference l2, and 13 indicates in dotted lines the flap of the shoe which is shown folded inwardly in order to provide an opening I4 between the side portions l5 and is of the shoe upper. The side portions l5 and I6 have spaced eyelets IT for receiving the shoe last the same being removed in the present illustration simply for clarity. It will be understood, in this connection, that it is not essential to remove the shoelaces in using my improved blocking device or last I8.

In the construction shown, the device l8 comprises an inflatable body IQ of rubber, rubberized fabric, or any other material which is preferably shaped or molded to conform with the general contour of the interior wall structure of a shoe. The body I9 will be made in a few different sizes in each of the difierent classifications of shoes,

for example, men and boys and may also have a blunt toe style and a pointed toe style. Aside from these few sizes and stylings, the body l9, upon inflation, is capable of conforming to the contour of the inner wall structure of the shoe.

The body l9 has a toe portion 20, a heel portion 2|, an upwardly extending instep portion 22 and a top wall part 23. Arranged upon the top wall part 23 is a rigid closure member 24 to close the foot admission opening of the shoe. This member will be composed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal, plastics and the like and includes depending and slightly flared:

side walls 25 which continue integrally with an end wall 26 engaging the top of the heel portion 2| of the shoe and also extending integrally with a side portion 21 of a front downwardly extending tongue 28 which is adapted to be arranged beneath the side portions l5 and 16 of the shoe upper. The tongue 28 also preferably includes two small key pins 29 which are adapted to pass through two of the eyelets l"l to retain the member 24 against accidental displacement through the top of the shoe.

Secured to the portion 22 of the body 19 is a conventional inflating nozzle 30 which passes outwardly through the tongue 28 at its outer end with a removable cap 3|.

The member 24 may be fixedly secured to the body [9 or may be detachable with respect thereto and in the use of the device it is preferred that the body l9 be partially inflated to facilitate insertion of the device into the shoe and when placed in proper position the body will be fully inflated to establish a pressure engagement of the complete wall structure thereof with the walls of the shoe.

In the normal use of the inflatable body, the wall structure thereof will apply substantially equal pressure to any irregular surface contour of the interior of the shoe. However, in order to exert greater pressures on predetermined sections or area on the wall structure of the shoe to compensate for any irregularities of the foot, a special last may be provided having either a weakened wall portion therein, as seen at 32, in Fig. 3 of the drawing, or by providing in the outer surface of the wall structure of the body an enlarged portion 33 in the form of a pad. It will be understood that the weakened wall portion 32 would have a tendency to bulge outwardly in the manner indicated in dotted lines at 34 in Fig. 3, whereas with the structure of Fig. 4 the enlargement 33 provided on the outer surface 35 of the inflated body would have the tendency to stretch the fabric of the shoe a greater degree where the enlargement 33 is located. The pads 33 may be cemented in position upon an inflated last, when removed from the shoe, in order to properlylocate these pads with respect to the irregularities of the foot. It will be understood, in this connection, that the last will be inflated to a size substantially equal to the size of the foot. It is also preferred that the means for retaining the pads 33 in position be such as to facilitate removal, in that after the shoe has been worn and forcefully blocked to a comfortable fit, the need for the pad is dispensed with, as the inflated body will conform with any irregular contours of the wall structure of the shoe which may prevail.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A last for blocking footwear, said last comprising a hollow body of the general contour of the interior of the footwear to be blocked, means for inflating saidbody to support the wall structure. thereof in flrm engagement with the wall structure of the footwear, and said body including a rigid member conforming substantially to the foot admission opening only of the footwear and extending forwardly to underlie the lacing portion thereof.

2. A last for blocking footwear, said last comprising a hollow body of the general contour of the interiorof the footwear to be blocked, meansfor inflating said body to support the wall struc-' ture thereof in firm engagement with the wall structure of the footwear, said body including a.

rigid member filling the foot admission opening of the footwear and extending forwardly to underlie the lacing portion thereof, and means on the forwardly extending portion of said member engaging opposed lace eyelets to retain the last against displacement from the footwear.

3. A blocking device for apparel, comprisingan inflatable body normally of a contour conforming with the inner wall structure of the apparel to be blocked, means on said body for inflating the same, predetermined portions of said body having a rigid wall member adapted to bridge an opening in the apparel to be blocked, and a plurality of pins on said member adapted to cooperate with a corresponding number of apertures of' said apparel to retain said member and body against displacement from said apparel.

4. A shoelast of the class described, comprisbody substantially of a shape of a foot when inflated, said body being arranged upon the under-surface of said plate, a valve by which body may be inflated, said plate having flared peripheral flanges adapted to underlie peripheral edge portions of the foot opening of a shoe, and key means on said plate adapted to engage lacing eyelets to retain the plate against displacement from a shoe.

ROBERT F. CAlVlPBELL. 

